September/October 2017 View this Email in Your Browser

Twitter Instagram YouTube Facebook

Baltimore to host first North AmericanGreenport Congress

MDOT MPA will host the international GreenPort Congress in May. Photo: MDOT MPA

The Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Port Administration (MDOT MPA) hasbeen chosen to host the first North American GreenPort Congress on May 16-18. TheGreenPort Congress is an international conference that brings together maritimeprofessionals from around the world to discuss environmental initiatives and developments.

The conference will be held at the Baltimore Convention Center with sessions ranging fromsmart ports and land redevelopment to managing dredged materials and the future ofcommerce vessels in a rapidly changing industry.

The Port of Baltimore has been recognized for its environmental efforts for several years andwas recently named a Green Supply Chain partner by Inbound Logistics magazine.

Forward to a friend!

Reducing emissions at the Port of Baltimore

Meet William Thomas, a truck owner who upgraded to a “cleaner, greener” vehicle with helpfrom the MDOT MPA, in this new video.

Thomas was a 2017 participant in the Dray Truck Replacement Program, which helps defraythe cost of a new truck that meets emission standards set by the US EnvironmentalProtection Agency (EPA). The older truck is disabled to ensure that it is no longer in service.

The program has helped replace 170 trucks to date, with funding from the EPA, MDOT MPA,and the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE).

Similar programs support upgrades for trains and other diesel-run equipment.

Naming the Masonville Trash Wheel

A naming contest is underway for a new trash interceptor that will be installed during thewinter at Masonville Cove. The interceptor or “trash wheel” is the third in the Baltimore areato receive support from the MDOT MPA; the two wheels currently operating in BaltimoreHarbor have drawn fans on social media and become fondly known as Mr. Trash Wheel andProfessor Trash Wheel.

Residents and students of communities next to Masonville Cove, including Cherry Hill,Brooklyn, and Curtis Bay, have submitted their suggestions for naming the third wheel. Thewinning suggestions from this first phase will be released soon, and votes will be collectedon social media.

Watch for an announcement in late October on the MDOT MPA’s Facebook, Instagram andTwitter feeds, and vote for your favorite!

Design of the Masonville trash wheel. Image: Ziger/Snead

Explore a new section of Masonville Cove

A new portion of Masonville Cove upland area is open to the public. This 25-acre upland areafeatures non-tidal wetlands, two osprey platforms, tidal wetlands, natural tree groves, andwalking trails.

The MDOT MPA is restoring the long-polluted and neglected Masonville Cove as part of itsoperations at the adjacent dredged material placement site. Much of the cove is alreadyopen to the public for hiking, fishing, watching wildlife, and enjoying educational programs.

The newly opened area has undergone a clean-up and reforestation effort over the past fewyears. A two-foot soil cap was installed on about 12 acres to offset the impact of debris thathad been on site for many years. The area was then replanted with native trees, a portion ofwhich were funded through a Natural Filters Grant from the Maryland Department of NaturalResources.

The National Aquarium hosted a bird walk in the newly opened upland area during the Masonville

Bioblitz. Photo: National Aquarium

MDOT MPA receives EnvironmentalExcellence Award

At a ceremony in May, R. Earl Lewis, Deputy Secretary of MDOT, presented the MDOT MPAwith an Environmental Excellence Award for its Air Quality Voluntary Agreement. Theagreement, which began in 2015, includes commitments by the MDOT MPA and MDE to workcooperatively on voluntary programs to reduce emissions and increase energy efficiency.

A workgroup was formed to share information and explore and propose new initiatives. Themembers work with other agencies, the private sector, and advocacy groups to identify andquantify sources of pollutants, analyze the costs and benefits of potential projects, and findfunding.

The workgroup is also developing strategies to address concerns of nearby communities.

Barbara McMahon, MDOT MPA’s general manager of Safety, Environment, and RiskManagement, said that stewardship is a priority. “We believe that taking responsibility forclean air, land, and water not only complements good business, but drives it,” McMahonsaid.

Harriet the Masonville osprey nears SouthAmerica

Harriet the osprey, a popular resident of Masonville Cove, is nearing the end of her 2,000-mile migration to South America. Harriet survived near-misses with Hurricanes Irma, Jose,and Marie before lingering in the Florida Keys and Cuba. Most recently, she was near Haitiand the Dominican Republic.

“We’re really excited about her. We’re calling her Hurricane Harriet,” said Chris Guy of theU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

A tracking device reports her location every three days. The next leg of the journey, Guysaid, is a “heroine flight” to the Amazon basin where she will spend her winter months. “This is the most difficult part of her migration because it’s over more than 400 miles ofopen ocean,” Guy said. “We wish her all the best.”

You can keep track of her journey on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Chesapeake Bay Field OfficeFacebook page.

Green dots on this map show Harriet the osprey’s progress on her migration to South America.

Photo: USFWS

Fellowship is a productive partnershipSean Newlin, a graduate student in public policy, at the University of California, recentlycompleted a summer fellowship at the MDOT MPA, researching ways to reduce emissionsassociated with port commerce.

In August, he delivered a detailed report on options that merit further study. The report willhelp the MDOT MPA update its 2015 environmental strategy.

“It’s is a two-way street with summer fellows: we provide the experience of working in theport environment and in turn receive fresh ideas,” said Barbara McMahon, MDOT MPA’sgeneral manager of Safety, Environment, and Risk Management.

Newlin faced at least one unexpected challenge during his stay. “I was impressed with howmuch was already happening, so to come up with new recommendations above and beyondwas a challenge – the MDOT MPA has been thinking about emission reduction for manyyears,” he said.

A drone’s-eye view of Poplar Islandexpansion

Learn about the 575-acre expansion of Poplar Island through the “eyes” of a camera-equipped drone. In this video by the US Army Corp of Engineers, you can see the beginningof the project.

Poplar Island is being restored using dredged material from shipping channels. Theexpansion will involve an additional 28 million cubic yards of dredged material, whichoccupies roughly the same volume as 316,000 shipping containers.

After being drained, graded, and planted, the expanded area will offer still more habitat forthe wildlife that lives, nests or makes a stop on Poplar Island. This includes habitat for manythreatened and endangered bird species.

The expansion area has been divided into different work areas or “cells.” Cell creation startswith the construction of a dike that surrounds the cell and protects it from erosion. In thevideo, the perimeter dike for cell 7 is now visible.

Progress at Pearce Creek

The MDOT MPA and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers continue working to reactivate the PearceCreek dredged material placement site, which will be ready to accept material from the

Chesapeake & Delaware Canal approach channels serving the Port of Baltimore later this fall.

As part of the project, the MDOT MPA is funding a public waterline from the Town of Ceciltonto neighborhoods in the Pearce Creek area, and construction has reached a major milestone– the first home was connected to the water system on September 13.

The MDOT MPA appreciates the ongoing coordination with residents and remainsenthusiastic about spring 2018, when all affected homes are expected to be connected tothe public waterline.

The waterline being installed within the communities. Photo: AECOM

Cox Creek Citizens Oversight Committee Meeting - October 11th from 6:30PM to 8:30PM

Riviera Beach Public Library

1130 Duvall Hwy, Pasadena, MD 21122 Pearce Creek Implementation Committee (PCIC) Meeting - October 20th at 10:00AM The Parklands Community Building

90B North Center Street, Cecilton, MD 21913

Harbor Team Meeting - October 26th at 6:30PM Pt. Breeze Maritime Center I

2200 Broening Highway, Baltimore, MD 21224

Dredged Material Management Program (DMMP) Annual Meeting -

November 3rd at 10:00AM

Sollers Point Multi-Purpose Center

323 Sollers Point Road, Dundalk, MD 21222

MPA Website GreenPort Website Port of Baltimore Magazine

GreenPort Newsletter is the Maryland Department of Transportation's Maryland PortAdministration’s bi-monthly update of projects and programs that help the agency contributeto a thriving economy, environmental stewardship, and community partnerships. As always,

we thank the many private sector businesses, government leaders, communities, andindividual citizens who have helped make these achievements a reality.

James J. White, Executive Director The World Trade Center

401 East Pratt Street, Baltimore MD 21202 1-800-638-7519 / www.marylandports.com

To subscribe click HERE

To unsubscribe click HERE